The Buenos Aires provincial health ministry will begin anti-mosquito fumigation and seek out cases of a rare mosquito-borne disease after 10 people were hospitalized and one woman died of the illness.

All 10 people diagnosed with Western Equine Encephalitis (WEE) in the province required hospitalization. At the time of publication, four had been discharged, while five remained in observation. A 74-year-old woman with underlying health conditions has died of the disease. She was from a semi-rural area, the Buenos Aires health authorities said.

In December, a 66-year-old man from a rural area in Santa Fe province also died of the disease.

BA provincial authorities will fumigate areas where cases of WEE have been reported in humans, including General Viamonte, Junín, Leandro N. Alem, Arrecifes, Baradero, La Plata, Ramallo, Campana and Bragado. They will also seek out symptomatic cases and promote prevention measures.

WEE is a neurological disease that spreads through the bite of infected mosquitoes. Although it mainly affects horses, it can be transmitted to humans, for whom the incubation period is two to 10 days. Human-to-human infections are not possible. 

Symptoms include fever, sudden headaches, muscle pains, tiredness, shivers and feeling generally unwell, and usually clear up after seven to 10 days. Most people do not experience any symptoms. However, in some cases it evolves into encephalomyelitis, an inflammation of the brain.

The provincial health ministry is seeking to zap the Aedes albifasciatus mosquitoes that carry the disease through fumigation. It also recommends that the public take bite prevention measures including wearing mosquito repellent (with the active ingredients DEET or IR3535), covering doors and windows with mosquito nets or fabrics, and wearing long-sleeved, light-colored clothing. The good news? This mosquito does not carry dengue fever — that’s transmitted by the Aedes aegypti species.

It’s also important to cut down weeds and empty out any containers where water can stagnate, such as old car tyres and plant pots.

Anyone who thinks they may have the disease, or who is experiencing severe symptoms such as headaches, muscle pain, vomiting, confusion or muscle tremors, should seek immediate medical attention. You can find a list of hospitals and health centers in Buenos Aires City here.

For medical emergencies, you can call 107, or the national emergency number 911.